We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Travel Products Travel Accessories The Best Motion Sickness Remedies, According to a Travel Writer with Chronic Nausea From ginger gum to peppermint oil, here’s how I prevent motion sickness from ruining a trip. By Anna Popp Anna Popp Anna Popp is a New York-based associate editor at Travel + Leisure, covering all of the best travel products, from luggage to outdoor gear. She has been a travel writer, editor, and product tester for over five years. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 27, 2024 Fact checked by Jessica Wrubel Fact checked by Jessica Wrubel Jessica Wrubel is an accomplished writer, copy editor, and fact checker, working for over 15 years for various publications owned by Tribune Publishing, The Arena Group, and Hearst Communications in the areas of Food, Health & Wellness, Travel, Lifestyle, Education, and Home Improvement. Travel + Leisure Fact Checking Process Comments In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Tips for Buying Frequently Asked Questions Why Trust T+L Photo: Travel + Leisure As an avid traveler that gets queasy even in elevator rides, I’ve developed quite the toolbelt for combating nausea, vomiting, and dizziness caused by motion sickness. A recent run-in with choppy seas and a tiny catamaran boat in Greece reminded me how important it is to embark on a trip prepared for anything, so I’m providing you with all the remedies I keep in a pouch when I leave home — or as a like to call it, my anti-barf bag. From over-the-counter medication to natural remedies, I like to keep a variety of options on hand depending on the type of sickness I’m feeling. Of course, it varies by person, but it never hurts to have multiple methods of relief packed in your travel pouch. While I’ll spare you the graphic details from my experiences with motion sickness, keep reading to see all my favorite remedies to help decide which ones are best for you. Our Top Picks Best for Flying: Sea-Band Anti-nausea Ginger Gum at Amazon $8 Jump to Review Best Motion Sickness Glasses: Hion Motion Sickness Glasses at Amazon $8 Jump to Review Best for Seasickness: SALE Dramamine All Day Less Drowsy Motion Sickness Relief at Amazon $6 $4 Jump to Review Best Wristband: Sea-Band Comforting Acupressure Bands at Amazon $10 Jump to Review Best Patch: SALE MQ Motion Sickness Patch at Amazon $13 $9 Jump to Review Best Essential Oil: Doterra Peppermint Essential Oil at Amazon Jump to Review Best Tea: Yogi Tea Stomach Ease at Kroger.com Jump to Review Best for Flying Sea-Band Anti-nausea Ginger Gum PHOTO: Amazon $8 at Amazon Why We Love It Chewing gum and ginger both can relieve nausea, so this two-in-one remedy really does the trick. What to Consider The ginger flavor can wear off quickly. T+L senior writer — and fellow motion sickness sufferer — Merrell Readman turned me on to this pack of ginger gum for when I need fast nausea relief during a flight. Since chewing gum and consuming ginger settles the stomach, this motion sickness remedy works faster than other remedies in my opinion, which is important when resources and options to lie down are limited on a flight. I also love that I can keep a pack of this Sea-Band ginger gum in my personal item so I can access it easily underneath the airplane seat. Best Motion Sickness Glasses Hion Motion Sickness Glasses PHOTO: Amazon $8 at Amazon Why We Love It The liquid inside the glasses acts as a fake horizon, which equalizes the brain, eyes, and inner ear to prevent motion sickness. What to Consider They look a little goofy to wear. Another gadget I swear by: these motion sickness glasses are super handy for road trips and train rides alike. One of the best remedies to motion sickness is keeping your eyes on the horizon, and if you can’t do that, the four circular “lenses” in these glasses have a blue liquid on the inside that creates a fake horizon. This tricks the brain into equilibrium with the eyes and inner ears, which can prevent motion sickness when every part of the party is in agreement. Sure, they look a little silly, but it’s worth it to be able to enjoy a car, train, or boat ride without getting sick. Travel + Leisure Best for Seasickness Dramamine All Day Less Drowsy Motion Sickness Relief PHOTO: Amazon $6 $4 at Amazon $4 at Target $10 at Walgreens Why We Love It The pills are anti-emetic, which help prevent vomiting from motion sickness. What to Consider It needs to be taken before seasickness hits to be most effective. I’m going to spare you the graphic details, but let’s just say my recent catamaran tour in Santorini didn’t go as planned. The only thing that saved me from additional trauma was this little travel-size pack of Dramamine. Thankfully, the anti-emetic pills did an excellent job of keeping things down after they started working about 30 minutes to an hour after I took them. Word to the wise: if you know you get seasick, you should pack these tabs whether you're heading on a long cruise or day tour and be sure to take them ahead of time for the most effective use. It's also always a good idea to keep your eyes on the horizon if you start getting seasick. Travel + Leisure Best Wristband Sea-Band Comforting Acupressure Bands PHOTO: Amazon $10 $9 at Amazon $21 at Riteaid.com Why We Love It With a plastic ball on the interior, these wristbands apply pressure to the P-6 pressure point to relieve nausea and vomiting. What to Consider The wristbands are made with fabric that can get sweaty or dirty easily. Along with severe motion sickness, I also feel the effects of altitude change — lucky me. Whenever I travel to a mountain town for skiing or just exploring, I always bring these acupressure wristbands. The pressure point 6 (sometimes called Neiguan) can alleviate the feeling of nausea and vomiting when pressing down on the spot in the forearm. I found that the little plastic ball on the inside of the wristband applies the perfect amount of pressure that was hardly noticeable when I wore the band all day every day. I wore both wristbands when I was feeling sick on a trip to Utah and they worked quickly at relieving my altitude sickness. Travel + Leisure The 9 Best Watch Travel Cases Best Patch MQ Motion Sickness Patch PHOTO: Amazon $13 $9 at Amazon Why We Love It One patch can last up to three days. What to Consider They have a strong herbal scent that can be bothersome. These patches offer a quick and discreet solution to nausea and dizziness. The medicinal patches can be placed behind the ear or below the belly button, and they can last up to 72 hours before you’ll want to replace it with a fresh patch. I like that the patches can be worn in the shower or in a pool without losing the effectiveness of the medicinal properties. Because the patches are made with herbs like ginger and safflower, they have an earthy scent that might irritate some people — though I didn’t mind it. Best Essential Oil Doterra Peppermint Essential Oil PHOTO: Amazon View on Amazon Why We Love It Peppermint is a soothing scent for combating nausea. What to Consider It can leave a burning sensation when it comes in contact with skin. Just when you thought having chronic nausea and motion sickness was bad enough, I also suffer from hereditary migraines (thanks, Mom). While I have prescription medication for migraines, I always keep a bottle of peppermint or lavender essential oil on hand as well since migraines can also cause nausea. Both lavender and peppermint scents offer a relaxing aroma for calming the mind, which can be hard to do when you’re tense from nausea. I also dab a bit of peppermint oil on my temples to relieve headaches and I find that to be extremely helpful, too. Travel + Leisure Best Tea Yogi Tea Stomach Ease PHOTO: Amazon View on Kroger.com View on Vitacost Why We Love It This ginger-flavored tea is designed to calm and soothe the stomach. What to Consider It may not be as easy to find hot water while you're traveling. It can be helpful to sip on a liquid when you’re nauseous, especially a tea made with herbs and roots like ginger that are known for medicinal properties. Aside from ginger, this tea is also made with licorice root, cardamom, fennel seed, peppermint, and more natural ingredients to soothe the stomach. I like the herbal and earthy flavor of the tea, but it might not be for everyone since it is relatively strong. The box comes with wrapped tea bags that make it easy to toss a few in a purse so all you have to do is get some hot water on an airplane to make a soothing cup of tea. The 13 Best Travel Pouches, Tested and Reviewed Tips for Buying Motion Sickness Remedies Think about your itinerary Some motion sickness remedies are better than others for airplanes, cars, or boats, so consider the type of trip before investing in certain products. If you know you’ll be swimming a lot, consider a remedy like patches or wristbands that can be worn in the water. For trips with activities that involve rigorous activities or operating equipment, steer clear of using medications that could make you drowsy like Dramamine. Test your remedy before big trips Motion sickness remedies can have different side effects and results in each person, so it’s important to try the product before you go on a trip. The first thing you should do is consult your doctor before starting a motion sickness remedy, especially medication. Depending on your medical history, certain products might not be best for you and the only way to ensure safely using any product is to check with a licensed medical professional. Have a backup If you’re like me and you know you get motion sick, then it’s crucial to have a variety of remedies on hand. I never leave the house without multiple forms of relief from medication to natural products. Also, make sure you check with a doctor before doubling up on motion sickness medication and products to make sure it’s safe. Frequently Asked Questions What causes motion sickness? When you’re walking down the street, your body and brain are in sync with the motion and surroundings. However, when you head off on a road trip, get in a moving boat, or airplane, your eyes, inner-ear, body, and brain, can get out of sync, causing side effects like nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. This is why it’s important to keep your eyes on the horizon when you can to try to minimize the confusing signals sent to the brain from the eyes and inner-ear. Where is the pressure point for motion sickness? The P-6 pressure point is located in the middle of the forearm a few inches down from the wrist. Applying pressure to this area with your fingers, or with the Sea-band wristband, might help alleviate nausea caused by motion sickness. Does chewing gum help with motion sickness? While it depends on the person, chewing gum can be an effective way to combat nausea caused by motion sickness. When I was on a boat in Greece, the deckhands gave me a minty gum that immensely helped with my severe motion sickness. Why Trust Travel + Leisure Anna Popp is an associate editor at Travel + Leisure, where she covers all of the best travel products from carry-ons to comfy shoes. As a frequent traveler who also suffers from severe motion sickness, Anna has tried dozens of remedies to alleviate side effects from motion sickness. Although every traveler is different, Anna pulled from her own experiences and research to recommend her favorite motion sickness remedies that are worth trying. The Ultimate Cruise Packing List Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week. Edited by Taylor Fox Taylor Fox Taylor Fox is the Outdoor Gear Editor at Travel + Leisure where she tests, researches, and writes about travel products. Taylor holds a Master’s in Geography and has been a writer and editor for over ten years. learn more